Drilling machine



Aug. 13, 1929.

D. WOLCOTT DRILLING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Dewey M nblcol,

ATTORNEY D. M. WOLCOTT DRILLING MACHINE Aug. 13, 1929.

Filed July 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTCSR .Dcney M 361cc,

BY ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1929. D M, OL TT 1,724,814

DRILLING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Den 60 M n olcott.

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ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

DEWEY MORTIMORE WOLCOTT, F SANDUSKY, OHIO.

DRILLING Application filed July 9,

My invention relates to drilling machines and more particularly to a reciprocating type of drilling machine for cutting hard rock bearing strata.

An obj cct of the invention is to provide a drilling machine wherein the drill tool or jar is alternately raised and dropped, gradually feeding it downwardly through the earth as the hole or well being drilled increases in depth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drill rig having means for retaining the drill stem at any height for the purpose of changing a drill bit, bailing, or moving the rig to a new location.

The invention further contemplates a reciprocating drill clamp for alternately raising and dropping the drill bit and when it is desired to remove or apply the drill bit whlch may be latched in neutral position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this character embodying a portable tower upon which an automatic drill stem engaging clamp is mounted for vertical movement and upon which a manually operable drill engaging clamp is supported for supporting the drill bit when the automatic clamp is not in operation.

Further the invention provides a well rig having a rotating drum and cable for raising and lowering a bailer to and from a well which is driven from the same source of power as the automatic clamp.

WVith the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the combination of elements, construction and arrangement of parts, and operations to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable drilling machine constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view of the automatic drill stem engaging clamp in gripping position,

Figure 3 is a front end elevation of the same,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 44 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the clamp disengaged from the drill stem;

MACHINE.

1927. Serial No. 204,582.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the invention, and

Figure 8 is a transverse section on line 88 of Figure 7.

Referring to the invention in detail a wheeled platform 5 is provided and supported thereon, at the rear end thereof is a tower 6 consisting of a pair of opposed L- shaped in cross section metallic columns 7 arranged in spaced relation at the front defining a vertical slot 8 therebetween. To support the columns they are provided with right angular extending feet 9 which are secured to the platform by fastenings 10.

At its upper end these columns are formed with upstanding offset parallel flanges 11 in the rear end of which a fixed shaft 12 extending transversely of the platform is mounted.

Normally resting upon the upper ends of the columns is a hinged tower section 13 made up of braced and connected angle beams 14: and having a pair of rearwardly extending pintles 15 revoluble on the shaft 12. In order to secure the hinged section in vertical position and against pivotal movement set screws 16 passing through openings 17 in the flanges 11 are engageable with the hinged section. v

The invention provides an automatic clamp for reciprocating a drill tool to cut through rock and feed the same step by step into the well as the depth of the latter increases. To that end I provide a block or head 19 vertically movable in the slot 8 and having vertically extending guide grooves 20 in its opposite faces which receive the adjacent flanges of the L-shaped in cross section columns. Formed with the outer face of the block and extending vertically thereof is a semi-circular jaw 21, and opposed thereto and co-operating therewith in holding a drill stem therebetween is a semi-circular vertically movable jaw 22. Pairs of links 23 have their ends pivotally connected to the vertical faces of the block and movable jaw at their ends to normally permit the movable jaw to swing downwardly to grip a drill stem.

Disposed upon opposite sides of the head and movable jaw at the upper end thereof is a pair of triangular shaped levers 24 having their outer ends pivoted as at 25 to the upper ends of the movable jaw. Formed with the lower end of each of the triangular shaped levers is an obliquely and forwardly extending arm 26 which has pivotal connection with the outer ends of the lower links 23 as at 27. A vertical extension 28 is formed with the upper ends of the lever 24 at the inner edge thereof. These extensions and inner edges of the triangular shaped levers are formed with contiguous inclined surfaces 29, the inclination extending outwardly with respect to the head and defining a horizontal shoulder 30 at the j un ture of the arm 26 with the levers 24.

To shift the triangular shaped lever forwardly to release the movable jaw from the drill stem to permit the latter to fall when the head has reached a predetermined height a pair of pivoted arms 31 is carried by the tower and project through and are movable in vertical slots 32 therein in transverse alignment with the inclined surfaces 29. Rollers 13 are carried by the free ends of these arms and are contacted by these inclined surfaces as the head is reciprocated. Contractile springs 35 are attached to the tower and arms intermediate their ends to normally hold them in a position where the rollers will engage the inclined surfaces.

Means is provided to permit the head to reciprocate while the drill bit is allowed to idle and comprises a rigid latch bar 2 extending rigidly from the head and projecting laterally beyond the movable clamp. A Y-shaped latch 2 is pivoted to the outer end of one of the lower links 23 adapted to straddle the projecting end of the latch bar thus elevating the triangular shaped levers 24 and movable clamp. This lower link is provided with a handle 1 whereby the triangular shaped lever and movable clamp are raised preparatory to swinging the latch element to engage the latch bar.

To reciprocate the head a longitudinally extending walking beam 36 is supported on the platform 5 by means of bearings 37 and carries at its forward end depending links 38 pivotally engaging a lateral ear 39 on the rear face of the head. A crank shaft 40 mounted in bearings 41 rearwardly of the bearings 37 is connected with a pitman rod 42which in turn is operatively connected with the rear end of a walking beam. A suitable motor 43 is carried by the platform and is operatively connected with the crank shaft as at 44 to transmit power thereto to oscillate the walking beam and thus reciprocate the head in its guide. The present invention also contemplates a drum 46 operated from the crank shaft for raising and lowering a bailer into and from a well, The drum is journaled in bearings 47 attached to the front of the bearings 37 and adapted to be wound therearound is a cable 48 passing over a pulley 49 journalled in a laterally extending plate 50 carried by the upper end of the hinged derrick section, the plate having a central opening 51 to receive and guide the upper end of a drill stem. The drum is fixed to rotate with a pulley 53 driven by an endless belt 54 passing around a drive pulley 55 on the crank shaft. As illustrated in Figure 8 the pulley is formed with a clutch face 56 to be engaged by a movable clutch element 57.

In order to control the clutch a clutch actuating arm 52 is pivotally supported 011 the platform with its lower end projecting below the same and connected witha trans versely shiftable link 58 which in turn is pivotally connected with a bell crank lever 59 pivoted upon the under face of the platform. A lever 60 extending longitudinally of the under face of the platform is pivotally connected with the upper leg of the bell crank and at its forward end is pivoted to the lower end of a vertically disposed actuating lever 61 normally held against movement by a stop 62 on the rear face of a latch bar or quadrant 63. It will be observed that upon actuation of the clutch element to engage the clutch surface on the drum by means of the actuating lever, the drum will be rotated and wind or unwind the cable according to the direction of rotation of the crank shaft.

For the purpose of retaining a drill stem in elevated position above the ground when the machine is being moved from one area to another a manually operable clamp is provided above the reciprocating head or block and comprises a pair of parallel vertically disposed jaws 64 having opposed semi-circular seats 65 to conform to the drill stem. The rear jaw is pivotally supported upon a horizontally disposed transverse shaft 66 carried by the outer ends of horizontal bars 67 carried by the hinged tower section. Links 68 pivotally connect the lower ends of these jaws together while a rectangular yoke 69 embraces the upper ends of these jaws and has its opposite ends pivotally connected thereto as at 7 0.

To actuate this clamp a rock shaft 71 extending transversely of the rear face of the hinged tower section 'is ournaled in bearings 7 2 carried thereby. A forwardly extending bifurcated arm 73 is fixed to rotate with the rock shaft and has pivotal connection with a rearwardly extending extension 76 projecting from the yoke. A rock shaft 77 is journaled in bearings 78 attached to the front end of the platform and one side of the tower and fixed thereto is a hand lever 80 movable over the quadrant and engageable in a notch 81 therein. A bifurcated link or arm 82 is fixed to the inner end of the rock shaft 77 which has pivotal connection with a vertically extending rod 83 arranged in close proximity to the tower and pivotally connected at its upper end to a similar arm or link 86 fixed to the rock shaft 71.

Inverted parallel U-shaped members 88 are attached to the upper ends of the bearings 37 for the purpose of supporting the hinged tower section when swung rearwardly to a horizontal position.

It will thus be observed that upon adjustment of the hand lever the two jaws will be actuated to clampingly engage a drill bit arranged therebetween and support the same while the machine is being moved to a new location, or for the purpose of changing a drill bit.

Operation.

Assuming the motor is in operation the walking beam is oscillated to reciprocate the block or head in its guide. Upon each upstroke of the head the movable jaw is clampingly engaged with the drill bit incident to the weight of the latter. However, as the head reaches the limit of its upstroke the rollers riding over the inclined surfaces of the levers 24 and extensions 28 forces these levers forwardly carrying the movable jaw in the same direction disengaging it from the drill bit to permit the latter to drop into the well and thus deliver an impact or blow to the rock bed therein or other hard strata. When it is desired to permit the drill bit to idle, the movable jaw is latched or elevated in neutral position by engaging the latch element with the horizontally extending latch bar.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a drill rig, a vertical tower, co-acting clamps pivotally connected together at their ends and mounted for reciprocation on the tower and caused to grip a drill stem incident to the lifting of the same by the upward movement of the jaws, vertically inclined members carried entirely by one of the jaws at opposite sides thereof, and jaw shifting elements carried by the tower and over which the inclined members ride whereby they are pushed outwardly to disengage said jaw from the drill bit when the jaws have reached a predetermined height.

2. In combination a vertical support, a pair of opposed co-acting aws carried thereby, one of which being laterally movable and caused to engage a drill stem by the weight of the latter, vertically disposed inclined members upon opposite sides of the movable jaw and pivotally supported jaw shifting elements projecting laterally from the vertical support and contacting with the inclined members whereby to cause said jaw to be shifted away from the drill stem when the jaws have reached a predetermined height.

3. In combination a vertical support, a pair of opposed co-acting aws carried thereby, one of which being laterall movable and caused to engage a drill stem by the weight of the latter, vertically disposed inclined members upon opposite sides of the movable jaw and pivotally supported jaw shifting elements projecting laterally from the vertical support and contacting with the inclined members whereby to cause said jaw to be shifted away from the dri s m when the jaws have reached a pre tor-mined height, and means for latching the laterally movable jaw and inclined members in raised position whereby to retain such jaw in inactive position.

4. In combination a vertical support, a pair of co-acting reciprocable jaws, clamps mounted thereon, links pivo llv connecting the two jaws together whereby LO cause the jaws to grip a drill stem therebetween incident to the weight of the latter, means for automatically moving one of the jaws away from the other and permit the drill bit to fall when the jaws have reached a pred termined height, a latch bar rigidly carried by one jaw, and a pivoted latch element carried by the other jaw and engageable with the latch to retain said jaw in inactive position.

5. In combination, a vertical support means thereon for reciprocating a drill tool, a pair of co-acting clamps pivotally connected together at their ends, a rock shaft journaled adjacent the clamps and operatively connected thereto, and a manually shiftable vertically movable rod operatively connect-ed with the rock shaft for moving the clamps into clamping engagement with a drill tool to support the same when the reciprocating means is inactive.

6. In combination a vertical support, a pair of co-acting clamps reciprocable on the support, pairs of links operatively connecting the two clamps together to permit one to bind against an object incident to the weight of the latter, vertically disposed levers having parallel angular arms pivotally connected to the links at the lower ends of the clamps, and having inclined surfaces above the arms, forwardly projecting clamp shifting elements contacting with the inclined surfaces and arranged to shift one clamp laterally away from the other to release the drill stem when the clamps have reached a predetermined height.

7. In combination a vertical support, a pair of co-acting clamps reciprocable on the support, pairs of links operatively connecting the two clamps together to permit one to bind against an object incident to the wei ht of the latter, vertically disposed levers having parallel angular arms pivotally connected to the links at the lower ends of the clamps, and having inclined surfaces above the arms, forwardly projecting clamp shifting elements contacting with the inclined surfaces and arranged to shift one clamp laterally away from the other to release the drill stem when the clamps have reached a predetermined height, a latch bar rigid with one clamp and projecting beyond the clamps in an inoperative position when desired.

8. In combination a vertical support, means thereon for reciprocating a drill tool, a pair of coacting clamps arranged on the support and pivotally connected together, a rock shaft journalled .on the support and having operative connection with one of the clamps, and a manually shiftable rod operatively connected with the rock shaft Whereby to move the clamps into clamping engagement with a drill tpol to support the same while the reciprocating means is inactive.

9.1n a drill rig, a pair of vertically arranged spaced guides, a head slidably mounted between the guides and having grooves in-its opposite faces receiving such guides, means for reciprocating the head, a drill tool engaging clamp rigid with the head, and a second clamp opposed thereto and pivotally connected therewith whereby upon movement of the head in one direction the drill tool Will be clamped and upon movement in the reverse direction the drill tool will be released.

DEVJEY MORTIMORE "WOLCOTT. 

